Worms remain one of the most controversial topics in medicine.Some doctors continue to consider nocturia and indigestion as the first symptoms of worms in humans.
Other experts believe that helminthic infections are not dangerous and advise not to take any measures if a parasite is found.
Types of worms in humans
Medicine knows more than 300 species of various parasites that can live in the human body.A worm is a worm of the genus helminths that parasitizes the body of mammals (humans and animals).It must not cause visible damage to the host's body.But in some cases it leads to the development of serious pathologies.
What does a worm look like?It depends on the type of helminth, of which there are two in humans:
- Traffic.These are roundworms, needleworms and whipworms.Large roundworms can be 10-40 cm long, they often accumulate in the small intestine and block it.Pinworms are small roundworms no longer than 1 cm in length.Similar to intestinal parasites and reach a length of 4-5 cm.Worm eggs look different, but almost all are round in shape.
- Coil.These worms include tapeworms and tapeworms.They are characterized by a long (up to several meters) body with a small head.Long and flat worms in humans can settle in the intestines, liver and other organs.This subspecies includes tapeworms with flat, long bodies and heads.They also have a suction groove or suction.
In addition to these variants, the body is parasitized by Giardia and protozoa, which affect the liver and small intestine.All types of parasites are characterized by an inability to remain completely outside the host's body, high reproductive activity, and the ability to spread throughout the body.
where do they live
To understand why worms are harmful, you need to know their type and location in the body.When worms are initially located in the intestines, they easily travel through the bloodstream and reach the lungs, liver, brain, and organs of vision.
Most often, helminths settle in the intestines.There they damage the mucosa, because in order to get food, the parasites suck or gnaw through the inner mucosa of the intestines.
For nutrition, they need constantly digested food or blood.The more parasites there are in the gut, the more nutrients are taken from the host.Toxic poisoning occurs.Waste products of worms enter the intestinal cavity and then into the human blood, causing general intoxication.
Classification
Depending on the habitat of the parasite in nature, the following types of worms in humans are distinguished:
- Geohelminths.Part of the life cycle takes place in the soil.Usually, eggs of parasites fall into the ground with feces, which, along with soil, vegetables and fruits, enter the body of the new host.Geohelminths include roundworms, whipworms, hookworms and necators.
- Biohelminths.In order for such parasites to grow and develop, they must reside permanently in the body of a mammal.The eggs begin to develop when they enter the body of an intermediate host - an animal, bird or fish.To develop and reproduce, worms must enter a new organism, usually a warm-blooded animal or human.Such helminths include tapeworms, nematodes and echinococci.
- Contact helminths.The smallest group.Transmission of these helminths occurs through direct contact with the owner or his personal belongings and clothing.Infectious parasites include pinworms and dwarf tapeworms.
Why are worms harmful?
Doctors often debate whether and how dangerous snakes are.It is believed that no parasites can survive in a healthy human body.If they remain, their numbers will be very limited and they will not cause much damage.
This theory is confirmed by its supporters by the fact that every day a person encounters many disease-causing bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms, which the body successfully copes with.
Thanks to natural defense mechanisms, a person can overcome helminths that have entered the digestive tract or on the skin.But if the infection was massive and the parasites found themselves in an environment favorable to themselves, worms in the intestines or liver can cause the development of many diseases.
Damage to the body depends on how long the worms live in a person.The length of stay of parasites depends on their species.Some of them leave the body after one reproductive cycle if a person is an intermediate host, such as with infection with bovine tapeworm or cat flu.But most often parasites exist in the human body for many years.
The consequences of a worm infection are a weak immune system, reduced digestion and a general weakness of the body that can no longer cope with normal stress and other diseases.Worm infections are especially dangerous for children and women.Parasites interfere with the full growth and development of the baby, and in pregnant women they cause miscarriage or delayed fetal development.
Symptoms of worms
With parasitic infections, there are manifestations that are common to all types of infections and specific, characteristic of each type.
Common symptoms of worms in adults:
- an increase in body temperature to hypothermia for no apparent reason;
- pain in abdomen, right hypochondrium;
- stool instability;
- change in appetite;
- weight loss;
- weakness, worsening of performance, headache.
The following symptoms are characteristic of ascariasis:
- nausea, pain in the abdomen and right hypochondrium;
- rashes that appear regularly all over the body;
- decreased appetite and weight loss.
With enterobiasis (pinworm), the following occurs:
- abdominal pain;
- itching in the rectal area;
- change in appetite.
Diphyllobothriasis (long tapeworms in humans) occurs:
- nausea, vomiting;
- abdominal pain;
- indigestion;
- weakness, headache, fainting.
If worms enter the liver, lungs or other internal organs, no symptoms of infection may appear for a long time.Then there are signs of dysfunction of a specific organ: cough, yellow skin, tachycardia.
Which doctor should I contact for helminthic infections?
If you suspect worms in your stomach, you can contact a pediatrician or therapist who will give a referral for an examination and prescribe treatment.Worms in the stomach also require consultation with an infectious disease specialist or parasitologist.
Analysis
Detection of helminths is carried out in several ways:
- Stool analysis and scraping for worm eggs.Most helminths live in the intestines, so eggs or body parts of parasites can be found in feces or scraps.The disadvantage of this method is its low reliability, since helminths in the stool can only be detected with massive infection.
- ELISA for helminthic infection.The enzyme immunoassay method allows you to detect antibodies against parasites.In the acute form of infection, IgM is determined, and if a person has already had parasites or the infection has become chronic, then IgG.
- Blood test.Detects antibodies against certain types of worms.It is considered the most accurate diagnostic method.
There are less common diagnostic methods: determining helminthic infection using a thermal camera or electromagnetic vibrations generated by parasites.But these methods are not widely used.To confirm the diagnosis, ultrasound of the abdomen, heart, CT of internal organs and magnetic resonance of blood vessels are also prescribed.
Treatment of helminthic infections
The diagnosis of parasites often causes negative reactions in patients, which is why they even refuse treatment.So what to do if worms are found in your family members or you?
Today, the treatment of helminthic infections in adults and children does not cause any difficulties.There are a large number of antiparasitic drugs - broad-spectrum or highly specific.
Under no circumstances should you self-medicate, much less attempt to remove worms from an adult or child on your own.Each drug has its own toxicity and can cause poisoning in the body.Only a doctor can prescribe the appropriate drug and treatment plan for its use.
Drug therapy
To get rid of worms, the following is recommended:
- A comprehensive preparation for all types of parasites.
- The drugs are effective against roundworms and hookworms.
- A broad-spectrum drug.
All types of worm medications only help to get rid of adult worms.Therefore, to completely destroy all larvae and eggs, you need to undergo several treatment cycles.
Traditional methods
To get rid of worms, there are the following recipes:
- Wormwood powder.Take 0.5 tsp.once a day for 3 days.
- Green peanut skin.It is given with alcohol for 10-14 days and taken 1 tsp.once a day.
- Clove seeds.A chopped clove is taken on the tip of the knife.The treatment lasts 7-10 days.
Diet
During the treatment of helminthic infections, it is recommended not to eat heavy food or temporarily refuse to eat to increase the effect of the treatment.And to speed up the removal of toxins from the body, you need to drink as much liquid as possible.
Ways of infection and prevention
There are three main methods of infection with helminthiasis:
- Foodstuffs.The most common route of infection.Worm eggs can be carried in water or soil;they can easily become infected by eating unwashed fruits, vegetables and berries.A large number of parasites live in fish and seafood, raw meat and dairy products that have not undergone heat treatment.
- Personal hygiene rules are not followed.You can catch helminths everywhere: in public restaurants, transport, shops, on the street, by contact with street and farm animals.The only means of prevention is personal hygiene and monitoring the condition of pets.
- Contact and housekeeping.This is how helminthic infections spread in children's groups.It is also possible to infect members of the same family by sharing towels, bedding or clothing.
Are worms transmitted directly from person to person?This is rare, but with close contact with an infected patient, the risk of infecting others increases several times.The only prevention against helminthiasis is observing the rules of personal hygiene and careful processing of food.
It is recommended to undergo tests and examinations by the doctor annually.If worms are not treated, a person's health can be seriously affected.And with the invasion of some types of parasites there is a danger to life.